Abuse of Faith: Part 5

 

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August 31st, 2020

Miami, Florida

Off Camera

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The phrase “the best laid plans of mice and men” is a translation of a Scottish proverb that was first published in 1786.  This particular proverb refers to something that has gone awry, something that has not turned out as well as one had hoped and carries the connotation that one should not expect for things to always turn out to plan.  Glory Braddock definitely understands the full meaning of this proverb, perhaps more so than anyone else because her many plans are starting to go awry.

 

In the beginning of the year The British Bombshell, alongside Ace Marshall and David Helms, won the Trios Tournament and thus each earned a Trios contract, allowing them to make any match they want.  Glory Braddock knew almost immediately what she would use her Trios contract for the very moment she won it; she wanted a one on one opportunity at the SCW World Championship.  The time to strike, according to her plans, would be after Rise To Greatness.  It didn’t matter who the champion happened to be after Rise To Greatness, she would challenge for the championship at Apocalypse.  It just so happened that the new champion is David Helms, her Trios partner.

 

Meanwhile Braddock had been busting her ass to make the year 2020 a year to remember.  The British Bombshell consolidated power within her company, eliminating all challengers and rivals to her power on the Global Wrestling Board of Directors.  She consolidated power within her wrestling school, making herself the sole authority figure.  And at SCW Rise To Greatness, she proved that she is just as deadly inside the ring as she is outside the ring, and she proved this by defeating Peyton Rice to become the new SCW Adrenaline Champion.  She had all of the momentum any potential world championship challenger could hope to have heading into her Trios cash in; everything was going according to her plans.  Nothing could go wrong.

 

Then it handed; an event that she hadn’t planned for, an event that she did not predict and yet one she should have known would come to pass.  Glory Braddock was targeted in a drive by shooting, but the shooters missed Glory.  Instead it was Mary Ford, Glory’s mother, who took the brunt of the bullets vicious assault.  The blonde beauty can only reflect as she paces the floors in the waiting room at a hospital in Miami, Florida.  She is kicking herself for not planning for this possibility.  She is angry with herself for not protecting her family, because she should have seen this coming.

 

Glory Bradddock had been utilizing tactics akin to those in organized crime to help her obtain and maintain power over the members of her company’s Board of Directors.  By dipping her toes into organized crime, The British Bombshell should have known that potential retaliation was not only possible but probably.  Yet she ignored the warning.  Braddock persisted in her obsessive quest for power.  But this attack on herself and her mother wasn’t the only time such an event took place.  She should have known such an attack was coming because this wasn’t the first time shooters targeted her.

 

Several months earlier shooters targeted Glory Braddock, her husband Kurt Logan, and their daughter Melinda Braddock outside of their hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina.  She should have known then at that moment that her life, as well as her family’s lives, were in danger.  But she ignored the warnings.  Now Glory Braddock has been targeted twice for assassination, both times she can guess that organized crime was involved and both times she knows that her own actions in trying to strong arm her way to controlling her company’s board of directors led to these assassination attempts.

 

Braddock can take it, though. She’s a strong and capable woman.  She is a woman with great power and with great power comes many enemies.  But her family should not suffer because of her.  That isn’t right.  It isn’t fair.

 

Glory is alone in this waiting room, which is good because her pacing would under normal circumstances disturb others around her.  And besides that fact, she really needs to be alone right now.  Yet this alone time and her meditation is interrupted when she spots the waiting room door opening.  Her eyes grow wide as she notices that her assistant, Meagan Collins, comes walking with a purpose towards The British Bombshell.

 

“Oh Gloria!” Meagan approaches Braddock with outstretched arms.  The two embrace in a tight hug.  Meagan isn’t exactly known for being the best of human beings.  She herself is involved with organized crime and Glory knew it.  Not only did she know it but she had evidence to prove it.  The evidence was used by Glory to blackmail Meagan into assisting her in her corporate takeover.  Collins held a grudge at first but over time they grew to become almost friends.  Whether you want to call it the Stockholm Syndrome or not is irrelevant.  These two women are now close allies.  The hug is broken and Meagan looks on at Glory with sad eyes. “How are you doing, honey?”

 

“As well as can be expected, mate.” Glory says, grief and despair still on her face.  In public she has been able to put on a good show.  She has been able to maintain a strong front.  She does not want anyone to see her like this.  She looks weak and vulnerable and she cannot afford to let anyone think she is vulnerable, especially not her enemies. “What information do you have for me?”

 

Meagan looks from side to side, making sure there is no one around listening.  She motions to two chairs against the wall in a far corner.  Glory nods, indicating that she knows what Meagan wants.  Glory had asked Meagan to meet her here at the hospital to deliver any information she had regarding the shooting.  Meagan has her ear to the ground, the underground namely, of organized crime.  If anyone may be able to find out about this shooting it would be Meagan.  Thus it was Collins tasked with the job of investigating this deadly shooting.  Still, secrecy is vital, because The British Bombshell does not want anyone knowing of her involvement.  So being here in a quiet, private part of this waiting room is important.  And whispering is important as well.  The two women approach the chairs and sit down next to one another.

 

“I can’t tell you much…”

 

“I don’t care.  It doesn’t matter.” Braddock is noticeably, visibly frustrated.  “Just tell me what you do know.”

 

“What do you want to know?”

 

“Is Matthew Alan involved?” Glory’s question is pointed and demanding.  Matthew Alan was the founder of the company Glory now owns.  His involvement in organized crime led to him losing control of the company, then when Glory obtained the company in 2012 Matthew continued to pressure her for years.  The pressure seemingly stopped after he was arrested by federal authorities on charges of embezzlement, tax fraud, and other white collar crimes.  Still, Glory knows of Matthew’s involvement in organized crime.  She knows how badly he wants this company back.  And she knows he will do anything to get it back.

 

Matthew Alan is her prime suspect.

 

“Matthew did not order the hit.” Meagan declares quietly.  This is surprising news to Glory who is shocked at it shows based on the look on her face.

 

“He did not order the hit, Glory.  I am certain of it.  He is currently on trial for white collar crimes.  Ordering a hit like this would be catastrophically stupid for him.  Prosecuters would immediately link it to him and charge him with attempted murder on top of everything else.”

 

“So?”

 

“He’s facing a lot of time behind bars as it is; if he were to be convicted of attempted murder it could become a life sentence.  And if your mother were to die…” Meagan is stopped by Glory who shakes her head, tears rolling down her cheek.

 

“Do not talk that way!”

 

“I’m sorry, Glory, but if your mother were to die,  then Matthew could be charged with murder and then face the death penalty.  He knows this.  He wouldn’t make such a dumb move.”

 

Braddock sighs and nods her head. “Fine...but did you at least look into it?”

 

“Yes, I looked into it even though I knew it was futile.  My sources confirmed what I already knew; Matthew did not order the hit.”

 

This isn’t the news Glory Braddock had wanted.  It would have been so much easier for the enemy to be Matthew Alan himself.  Braddock could have dealt with him better.  But this changes things.  Braddock is also still rocked by the possibility that her mother could pass away from these gunshots.  But she still needs to remain strong and focused.  She steels herself and regains her composure.

 

“So if it wasn’t Matthew then who was it?”

 

“It wasn’t Matthew, you’re right.  But it was someone connected to Matthew who ordered the hit against his wishes.  It may have been a member of his family, it could have just been an ally of his, but someone with strong ties to  Matthew ordered this hit.”

 

“And you don’t know who?”

 

Meagan sighs and shakes her head. “No, I don’t.  Sorry.”

 

No control.  Glory Braddock has absolutely no control over this situation and it is driving her crazy.  All she wanted was a clear, definitive answer from Meagan Collins but she isn’t getting it.  The frustration has reached its boiling point.

 

“So it isn’t Matthew...but someone connected to him…am I understanding that right?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Fine.” Glory nods her head. “Look into my eyes, Meagan; I want you to understand very clearly what I am about to tell you.”

 

“Ok…” Meagan pauses, clearly confused by this, but she does as she is told.  She looks into Braddock’s eyes.

 

“Take care of this.”

 

“What?” Meagan is startled by this very vague demand. “What does that mean?”

 

“Just take care of it.”

 

“You need to be more specific.  What do you want me to do.”

 

“Just take care of it!” Glory exclaims quietly but angrily. “I am a very busy woman; I have a company to run, I am the SCW Adrenaline Champion, I will challenge for the World Championship at Apocalypse, and I have a mother who may be on her deathbed.  I cannot deal with all of this right now!”

 

Braddock pokes Meagan in her chest. “I need you to take this weight off of my shoulders.  I need you to handle this for me and I really don’t care how you handle it.  Are we perfectly clear?”

 

Meagan Collins pauses to consider the words of The British Bombshell.  Meagan finally nods her head.  Before she can answer a nurse emerges into the room. “Ms. Braddock?”

 

“Yes, I’ll be right there…” Glory looks one final time at Meagan “...do you understand what I want?”

 

“Yes, I get you.” Meagan nods her head.

 

“Good.”

 

Glory and Meagan hug one final time before Meagan gets up and makes her exit.  She approaches the nurse who then proceeds to lead her through the halls of the hospital.  It isn’t that terribly long a walk but for Braddock, who is terribly concerned for her mother’s well being, it seems like an eternity.  Finally they reach the door, brown and dull like all the others, but Glory can already see people inside.

 

"Well, here we are," the nurse smiles kindly and opens the door wider. Doctors and nurses surround a hospital bed.  IV's, heart monitors and oxygen tanks are attached to a figure who Glory can see is her mother, Mary Ford.

 

The hospital room is a concrete pen with a window the size of a biscuit tin lid. It has a stagnant smell, like it's cleaned with plain water instead of disinfectant. The bed sits low to the ground, the frame baring the signs of rust and the mattress worryingly thin. The hospital room is as devoid of beauty as The British Bombshell is of hope. Its walls are simply cream, not peeling or dirty, just cream. There is no decoration at all save the limp curtain that hangs in front of the window.  It was perhaps once the kind of green that reminds people of spring-time and hope, but it's faded so much that the hue is insipid. The room has an undertone of bleach and the floor is simply grey.  At the door are dispensers for rubber gloves, hand sanitizer and soap. These items only reinforce the fear of germs, they are so ubiquitous here that cleaning is mandatory every time a doorway is passed or a patient is touched.

 

The nurse leads Braddock further into the room to the man who appears to be the lead doctor.  He is a white haired, older gentleman.  He is wearing scrubs and is staring down at his patient when the nurse and Glory arrive.

 

“Doctor…” he turns around to face the nurse and Glory “...this is Gloria Braddock, the patient’s daughter.”

 

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Braddock.”

 

“Thank you, doctor.” She looks nervously over at her mother. “How is she?”

 

“There hasn’t been much change since your last visit, I’m afraid.”

 

“Is she awake?”

 

“No, we have had to put her into a medically induced coma.  The injuries she sustained went beyond just merely the gunshots which, for the most part, we have been able to fix.  It appears that Ms. Ford has suffered some minor brain trauma as well.  She is in a medically induced coma so that her brain, along with the rest of her body, may be protected while she heals naturally.”

 

“Will she be ok?” Glory is fighting back the tears but this strong front is becoming very difficult to maintain.  The doctor sighs.

 

“I hope so.  I believe so.  But right now, at this stage, anything is possible.”

 

“What does that mean?!” Glory demands. “Is my mother going to be ok or not?!”

 

“Your mother is stable for now.  Unfortunately she could easily take a turn for the worse at any moment.”

 

Braddock sighs and shakes her head. “May I...may I just have some time alone with my mom?”

 

“Of course.” The doctor nods his head and then, along with the other nurses, makes his exit.  Glory is now alone in the hospital room with her mother.  Braddock approaches the hospital bed. She looks down at her comatose mother and the emotions immediately become unbearable.  Like a tidal wave they wash uncontrollably over Glory as she begins to bawl.  The British Bombshell then reaches out and clasps her mother’s hand tightly.

 

“I’m sorry you got drug into this mom!  I am so sorry…” Braddock’s eyes narrow with hatred “...but I will make them pay...I swear to you, they will pay…”

 

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September 3rd, 2020

Miami, Florida

Off Camera

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The opulent living room of “The British Bombshell” is a gorgeous, sleek modern design.  It is also clean; almost to perfection with barely a spot and even if one exists, it isn’t noticeable.  The cream colored sofa is soft, comfortable, and plush.  It is situated in front of a large flat screen television mounted on the wall above a fireplace.  The fireplace does seem slightly out of place as it is the only piece in this living room that looks relatively traditional.  It isn’t used often; this is Miami, after all.  Sitting in a comfortable recliner with her feet propped up is none other than “The British Bombshell” Glory Braddock.  Sitting on the arm of the comfortable reclining chair is the remote control and in Braddock’s right is a glass of red wine.  The blonde haired beauty’s stone faced gaze is glaring across at a television set which is tuned into the morning news.

 

Her intense focus right now is so much so that she doesn’t even notice her husband, Kurt Logan, entering the living room.  She doesn’t even notice when Kurt sits down next to her.  The reigning SCW Adrenaline Champion is completely oblivious to it all.  Her focus is set entirely on the news, which is focusing on the ongoing trial of Matthew Alan…

 

“The trial of millionaire and former wrestling promoter Matthew Alan got heated today as the prosecution presented one of its key witnesses, a former employee who worked in finance and who admitted to doctoring the books at the request of Mr. Alan himself, so that he could pocket extra cash. Mr. Alan’s defense attorneys are still adamant that these claims are entirely fraudulent.  They claim that the witnesses are all part of a greater conspiracy against their client, trying to bring him down, and that Mr. Alan has done nothing illegal.”

 

Kurt taps Glory Braddock on the shoulder. “Glory?”

 

“Huh?” Braddock is somewhat startled.  She turns and is surprised to see Kurt sitting there beside her.  She sighs. “Oh, it’s just you…”

 

“Nice to see you too.” Kurt smirks, then he leans over and kisses her on the cheek.

 

“Sorry, love.  I just didn’t notice you were there, that’s all.”

 

“That’s obvious.” Kurt takes the remote from Glory and turns the television on mute. “Care to take a break from this?”

 

“I can’t.”

 

“Yes, you can.  You need to.”

 

“Maybe I need to but I still can’t take a break from this.” Braddock sighs frustration oozing from her voice. “My mum got shot by assassins targeting me, Kurt.  And I need to figure this out.”

 

“Your only responsibility is to take care of your mother, and as far as that goes, you’ve done everything you can do by placing her in a doctor’s care.  You are not responsible for figuring out who did this.  That’s for authorities and they are investigating this, am I right?”

 

Glory is silent for several moments.  She still hasn’t openly admitted to her husband about her involvement with Meagan Collins and the strongarm tactics that she used in order to obtain control over her company.  Kurt definitely suspects.  Who wouldn’t?  But she hasn’t told him.  She doesn’t plan to.  Braddock nods her head.

 

“Yeah, you’re right…”

 

“Good.  Then you’ve done your job.  Now you need to focus on taking care of your other responsibilities.  You have a family that loves you, you have a company to run, and if I recall, you have cashed in your Trios contract and that means you have a world title to win.”

 

Braddock nods her head.  Kurt is right on the money this time.  As much as she wants to the bottom of these recent attempts on her life she still realizes that a woman in her position has a great many responsibilities.  Among those responsibilities include her professional responsibilities.  She is still an active wrestler for Supreme Championship Wrestling and the next challenger for the SCW World Championship.  Before that, she will be facing Asher Hayes on Breakdown.  Glory knows all about the importance of momentum heading into any big match and she cannot afford to lose that momentum.  She cannot afford to lose to Asher Hayes.

 

“Yeah, I know.”

 

“Then you need to quit dwelling on this.  Your mom will be fine.  She is in good care.  And I am sure she wouldn’t want you moping around the house worrying about her.”

 

“It’s easy for you to say, love.”

 

Kurt is preparing for his response when a knocking is heard coming from the front door.  Kurt starts to get up but Glory holds out her arm, stopping him.  She shakes her head. “No, let me answer it.  I mean, you’re right, I do need some kind of distraction from all this mess.”

 

Kurt nods his head and watches as his wife steps away from the sofa.  Glory begins her walk out of the living and the knocking begins again, more intense this time.  Glory is growing frustrated by this and she rolls her eyes. “Bloody hell!  Be patient!”

 

Braddock steps out into the hall and then heads to the front door.  She opens it and she is surprised to see none other than Aurora Alan, youngest sister of Matthew Alan, standing there.  Glory has had very few face to face encounters with her but she does know who she is.  She also knows her home and headquarters is in Charlotte, North Carolina along with the rest of her family.  The fact that she made the trip to Miami, Florida to personally see Glory is a shock.

 

“Aurora?  What the bloody hell are you doing down here?”

 

Aurora rears back and slaps Glory across the face.  Braddock rubs the sting out of her cheek before exclaiming angrily back at the visitor. “What the hell was that for?!”

 

“I think you know damn well what that was about, Braddock!” Aurora shouts angrily.  The shouting was enough to alert Kurt who now joins his wife at the door.

 

“Is something wrong?” Kurt asks curiously.  Glory shakes her head, hoping he’ll go away.

 

“Nothing is wrong, Kurt.”

 

“Your wife is a liar, Kurt.” Aurora says accusingly, pointing a finger at Glory. “Why don’t you tell your husband what you did?  Or shall I?!”

 

“What is she talking about?” Kurt asks Glory curiously.

 

“I have no bloody idea…” Glory says, genuinely confused about what is going on.

 

“You can play the fool all you want but you don’t fool me, Glory.  I know you did it and you cannot hide your guilt forever.”

 

“You’re insane!  I haven’t done a damn thing!”

 

“Yes you did!”

 

“Enough!” Kurt exclaims as he steps in between the two women. “Now will someone tell me what the hell we’re talking about here?!”

 

Aurora nods her head. “Fine, since your wife still wants to play innocent.  Gunmen came and shot at my sister’s house a couple days ago.”

 

“What?!” Glory aks in pure, genuine shock.  Aurora is the youngest of three children, Matthew is the oldest.  The middle child was Jennifer Alan.  To hear that Jennifer was fired upon is shocking news to The British Bombshell. “You’re kidding, right?  You have got to be joking?!”

 

“No, I’m not.  You’re just lucky that no one was home at the time.”

 

“Thank God…” Glory’s voice trails off, grateful that no one was hurt.  Then she looks up into Aurora’s eyes which are still full of anger and hatred.  It becomes clear that Aurora is accusing Glory of being behind this crime. “...wait, you think I am behind it?”

 

“You have been playing dirty politics and dirty tricks to strongarm your way into power over your company’s board of directors because you were paranoid that for some reason Jennifer, myself, or even our brother might try to take your precious company from you.”

 

“Look…” Glory starts to answer back but she cannot find the words.  She looks into her husband’s eyes which are also judgmental.

 

“Glory?  Is she telling the truth?”

 

“Kurt, I may have done some things, but everything I did was legal.  I would never ever do anything criminal and what happened to Jennifer was criminal.”

 

“You’re damn right it was criminal!” Aurora shouts. “And you know what else?  That’s the same line my brother keeps giving prosecutors, the same line he keeps telling the government; that everything he did was legal.  But guess what?  I know as good as anyone else that he was involved with organized crime.  I know he used organized crime to obtain his corporate power.  So why wouldn’t you use it to KEEP your corporate power?”

 

Braddock shakes her head. “Because I’m better than that!  All I want to do is protect this business.  I want to protect professional wrestling!  I know I am the best person to run that company, so I do what I must.  But your brother, he was actively involved in organized crime and you knew it!”

 

“Yes, I know it.  But the difference between you and me is that I’m doing my best to rebuild my family’s reputation.  And yes, if prosecutors call on me to testify against my brother, I will.  But you…” Aurora shakes her head “...you’re single handedly destroying the Braddock name.  It was once an upstanding, proud, noble name.  You’re ruining it.”

 

“No I’m not…” Braddock sighs and shakes her head vehemently “...I’m not!  I’m doing what’s best!  I’m looking out for the greater good!”

 

“Says every tyrant that ever existed.  But I’ll tell you what, Glory, I’ll give you a chance. Look into my eyes and tell me the truth.  Did you have anything to do with the assassination attempt on my sister?”

 

Braddock stares into Aurora’s eyes for several tense moments before shaking her head. “No…”

 

Aurora nods her head. “Fine, I believe you.  But if you think you have any idea who did this, or any reason why she was targeted, you had better tell me or tell the authorities, because if I find out this was in any way connected to you, I will push for criminal charges.  And if the government doesn’t go along with it, then I will sue your ass for every damn penny you have!”

 

Aurora turns and storms away in an angry huff.  Glory is standing there in disbelief watching her go away.  Kurt taps Glory on the shoulder and for the second time she is startled, because yet again Glory wasn’t focused on Kurt.  She was focused on what may be her entire plans, her life, coming crumbling down in front of her.

 

“Glory?”

 

“Yeah…”

 

“I think you and I need to talk.”

 

Braddock sighs and nods her head.  Slowly she turns and walks back into the house.  She hears the door shutting behind her and then can feel the footsteps of her beloved husband Kurt following ever so close behind.  Glory reenters the living room where she sits back down on the sofa.  Kurt does not sit next to her; instead he remains standing, towering over his wife, with his arms folded over his chest.  He almost resembles a disappointed parent expecting a good explanation rather than a loving husband.

 

“What is this all about, Glory?”

 

“Kurt, you know how I feel about my company.  And you know how I feel about wrestling.”

 

“You’re very passionate about both.  It doesn’t explain what you did or why you did it.”

 

Tears are forming in Glory’s eyes as memories come rushing back. “They took my company away from me once.”

 

“I remember; and I also remember that it was because you were on the verge of a mental breakdown.”

 

“Yes and they took my company away from me!” Braddock exclaims angrily.  “They took it and gave it to Henry Van Stanton, Mason’s brother and an enemy of mine.  Don’t think that went unnoticed.  Because this wasn’t about looking out for my best interests or the best interests of the company.  It was all about my enemies on the Board of Directors.”

 

“You’re sounding paranoid.”

 

“Do I really?  Because think about it, Kurt, a majority of the Board of Directors at the time I lost power were all allies of the founder and former owner Matthew Alan.  They wanted him back and hated the fact that I was in charge.  They put Henry Van Stanton in charge because they could control him.  Or at least they thought they could.  When they lost control of him, when Henry became their enemy, they turned back to me.  They gave me control of the company again.  They never cared if I was truly cured of my mental break or not.  They just wanted to replace Van Stanton.”

 

Glory sighs and shakes her head. “But I knew it wasn’t as simple as that.  I knew that if I was replaced once, and if they just as easily replaced Henry, that they could get rid of me a second time.  I had to ensure that I had majority support on the Board so that I would never again be stripped of power in my own company.”

 

“So you went to organized crime?” Kurt asks.  Glory vehemently shakes her head in denial.

 

“No!  I would never resort to organized crime!  I had a private investigator dig up dirt on Meagan Collins.  I found out evidence of her involvement in criminal activity when Matthew Alan was running the company.  With that evidence I...convinced her to help me…”

 

“So you blackmailed her.”

 

“She is much better and far more adept at corporate politics than I am.  She was able to manipulate enough members of the Board to give me the majority control I needed.   That’s all I used her for.”

 

“Alright fine,” Kurt himself is beginning to show signs of frustration “but I still fail to see how this ultimately connects to the shooting that took place at the Alan home?”

 

“I don’t know.” Glory shrugs her shoulders. “I’m not even sure that it does.”

 

“Well you’re in this deep, Glory.  I hope you realize just how deep you are and I hope you can find a way out.  And I hope that whatever you have to do to end this you get it done so that we can put a stop to this.  We were already shot at once before and I took the bullet for you.  You were shot at again and that time your own mother took the bullet.  Now Jennifer was....”

 

“Oh my God!” Glory gasps as her face lights up in a look of shock mixed with sheer horror.  This is because The British Bombshell has finally come up with a potential explanation behind the attack. “It was retaliation…”

 

“Retaliation against what?”

 

“Against the attempt on my life.  Meagan did this…”

 

==========

Portland, Oregon

On Camera

==========

 

We open in a setting that, quite honestly, could not have been timed any better; the sun is just now beginning to rise over the skyline of Portland, Oregon.  We are on the balcony of someone’s hotel room. A few moments later it becomes rather apparent who that person is when she enters from stage left. Our visitor; The British Bombshell, the woman who some believe to be The Best in the World, Glory Braddock approaches with a confident stride in her step.  She is dressed in her royal purple colored two piece wrestling gear.  Her long blonde hair hangs unrestrained to shoulder length.  A confident smirk is etched across her lovely features.  And why shouldn’t she be confidant? She is the SCW Adrenaline Champion, a title belt which she proudly displays over her right shoulder.  The self-proclaimed Best in the World is also set to face David Helms at Apocalypse for the SCW World Championship.

 

“This is a gorgeous sight!  The beauty of this scenery is just exquisite!  We wouldn’t have such wonderful beauty to enjoy were it not for the pioneers long ago who braved the Oregon Trail.” Braddock chuckles and shakes her head. “And no, to you uneducated fools out there, I am not talking about some dumb computer game.  I am talking about the long path that settlers took to travel westward.  Was it a popular trail?  Did the settlers enjoy taking up all of their belongings, everything they owned, and traveling west to an unknown and uncertain future?  No, they didn’t.  They hated it.  But they knew that it had to be done.  They knew that this Oregon Trail represented their future.  They knew it represented the future of this country.  And thus the future of this country was built on the Oregon Trail.  This Oregon Trail carried this country into its future.”

 

“I can relate to The Oregon Trail because I view myself as the rightful bearer of the future of Supreme Championship Wrestling.  Like the Oregon Trail I am the gatekeeper.  If you want a future you have to prove your worth, you have to test your mettle, and you do so by surviving me.  Peyton Rice was put to the ultimate test at Rise To Greatness and just as I predicted she failed her test miserably.” Braddock pats the Adrenaline Championship belt that sits nicely over her right shoulders.

 

“Now I carry the symbol of that future, the symbol that Peyton used to have I know possess.  And who am I?  I am Glory Braddock and whether you catchy line you want to use, the hero you deserve, the hero you need, it really doesn’t matter, because I am the only true hero in this god damn company.  I am fighting for the future of this company to ensure that it survives, to ensure that its future is shaped into a good, just, respectable image.  Namely, my image.” Braddock immediately begins to chuckle ever so slightly.

 

“Therefore it should come as no surprise to anyone that my eyes are now set upon the richest prize in this company.  It shouldn’t surprise anyone that I used my Trios contract to get a one on one World Championship match against David Helms.  After all, SCW needs me as the SCW World Champion.  You can all cry, bitch, and moan about it all you want, but the fact of the matter is that there is not a damn person on this roster more deserving of this spot than me, and there is no one on this roster capable of beating David Helms except for me.  So it is natural that I should get the first title shot, I just used my Trios contract to make certain it happened on my time and on my terms.  And at Apocalypse I will continue to set the future of SCW straight with a victory over Helms.”

 

“Ah but first I have to deal with other nuisances.  Since SCW’s pretty Peyton failed her test the company is turning to its other heroes, specifically its more degenerate, perverse heroes.  And yes, I am talking to you, Asher Hayes…” Braddock points a long slender finger at the camera, indicating that she is speaking directly to her opponent on Breakdown at this time.

 

“The last time we met you were reaching out to claim any sliver of relevance left to have; you were all but lost in the shuffle and no one gave a damn about you.  You play to the lowest of the low, the scum of the earth; you are their hero.  The irrelevant, the ones who do not know when to quit, the ones who are unashamedly perverse; they are your people.  I’m sure you recognize the beautiful championship belt over my shoulder.  You used to possess it but now? You lost it.  Now you’re nothing but a side show.  Now you’re nothing but comic relief.  You were all but forgotten until you decided to drag Cid Turner into your little gang of misfits and form a team…” Braddock smirks.

 

“...or a unit I should say?  AC Unit.  How cute.  The fact is Cid never should have come back and you should have been gone a long time ago, Asher.  This is about the future of Supreme Championship Wrestling and anyone who thinks you are part of that future is delusional.  And if you think you can create a future for yourself in this company then you are truly a bigger fool than even I had imagined.  But then again, maybe not?  One thing I know better than anyone else is to never ever underestimate an opponent.  So maybe you have a plan in all of this?  Maybe this isn’t your fool’s attempt at regaining relevancy with a victory over the reigning SCW Adrenaline Champion.  Maybe you can see the writing on the wall.  Maybe you can see that 2020 has been my year of complete dominance.  I won the Trios Tournament a second year in a row and I became the SCW Adrenaline Champion and now, before this year closes, I will become the SCW World Champion.  You know that I am the only one capable of taking down Helms.  So you’re hoping for one last chance, am I right?  Maybe a victory, or at the very least a strong showing against the next SCW World Champion can put you in line for a title shot.”

 

Braddock shakes her head. “I hate to inform you of the bad news but that is not how this is going to work out.  You see Asher, just like how the Oregon Trail controlled the fates and the futures of each and every settler who crossed its dangerous and deadly path, I too control the fate and future of those who confront me.  Just ask Peyton.  She was supposed to take a giant leap forward at Rise To Greatness but then I put out her light in the snap of my fingers.” Braddock snaps her fingers for added emphasis.

 

“Your role in all of this, Asher, is to be my warm up match.  You will put up a hell of a fight, you will do your best, but at the end of it all your best just simply isn’t enough when compared to The Best in the World.  I will put out your light just as I put out Peyton’s.  That’s the future, Asher.” Glory chuckles lightly.

 

“Oh and speaking of the future, David Helms...I want you to pay very close attention to Breakdown.  I want you to watch my match against Asher very closely.  Because when you watch my match against Asher, you are looking into the crystal ball.  You are looking into your future, Dave.  And your future is me extinguishing your light.  It is me, putting you down for the count once and for all, and leaving as the new SCW World Champion.  Breakdown is a sneak peak into your future.”

 

Braddock shuts her eyes. “Sic Semper Tyrannis…”